PUTRAJAYA: There were significant dissimilarities in signatures that appeared in government documents relating to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), purportedly by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the High Court was told.
Forensic document examiner Tay Eue Kam, 59, testified that she had observed both similarities and differences in the specimens, but her findings came back inconclusive as there was an absence of the original documents in her study.
"My opinion is inconclusive due to the existence of both similarities and differences.
"A conclusive determination would necessitate further assessments of the original document," she told the High Court here on Monday (May 5).
Tay, who was under an examination-in-chief by Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, is the 25th defence witness testifying in the former prime minister's RM2.28bil graft trial involving 1MDB.
The expert had analysed 31 specimen documents, including numerous bank cheques, government letters and memos, to determine whether Najib had indeed written notes and signed seven impugned documents in relation to the trial.
All the documents, however, were reproductions of the originals.
"It has been established that examination can be conducted on reproductions of good quality... (while) poor quality reproductions present challenges in identifying some critical handwriting figures.
"While specific details such as connection, line quality and variations in pen pressure within the signatures in the reproductions were not explicitly deciphered, their structural formation, key features and orientation were subject to examination and analysis," Tay said of her inconclusive findings.
Shafee: Because it's a reproduction, from your experience, can the signature (in the impugned documents) be lifted and pasted?
Tay: When we deal with reproduction, we cannot exclude that probability.
Shafee: How do you prove if they are lifted or not?
Tay: It's not an easy answer. It's the way they do it. If they photocopy it... there will be lines erased. I have to compare it with the original.
According to the witness, it was not easy to identify fabrication without the oiginal documents to compare.
On Oct 30, Najib was ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB's funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing continues before Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Tuesday (May 6).
